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Violent crime is on the rise folks. Have you watched the news lately? The murder rate is growing, and more than half of Americans don’t feel safe. It appears we live in a society where people are losing respect for each other and human life in general. As a result, many folks live in fear and are starting to protect themselves. For example, the requests for handgun permits are up, and people are beginning to protect their personal information, their computers, and their homes. Alarm companies are installing systems daily across the country at a very fast pace.

What have you done to protect yourself, your family, or your business? I’m sure you have taken many precautionary measures, but have you prepared yourself for the liability if you had to “act”? Are you well versed in the law on what is, and is not legal? We not only physically protect you and your assets, but we work within the law on a daily basis so we protect you responsibly.

We can’t change society or where it’s headed, but we can keep you protected.

The winter blues has given way to spring rains and warmer weather. Many homeowners are thinking about your spring planting and landscaping. Done right, landscaping can improve your home security and be a deterrent to criminals. Done wrong, it could be a burglar’s best asset. We’ve gathered some great tips from across the web to give you some ideas.

Razor wire? How about a bed of roses? HGTV says there are several thorny plants that offer a natural defense. Those include rose bushes and trees like a Washington Hawthorn. They can grow thorns up to three inches long. HGTV recommends planting a bed of roses right underneath a window. They also recommend plants like the Oregon grape holly that spiny teeth around the leaves.

Jacqueline Soule of Angie’s List writes that going to the extreme could make your home ripe for criminals. She says a home with a dense jungle of plants obscuring the door and windows is ideal for potential burglars. They give perfect cover. She recommends pruning plants and thinning out trees so there’s a clear line of sight to the street.

Another simple idea comes from the home security company SimpleSafe. They recommend a bed of gravel under your windows. Burglars don’t want to make any noise and a bed of gravel isn’t easy to walk on quietly. They also remind homeowners to pick up your kids toys and keep your lawn mowed.

Finally, the Lazy Gardener for the Houston Chronicle says use a little common sense. Don’t leave ladders outside, don’t block electrical boxes, so burglars can’t easily cut your power. Also she gives a good reminder to not landscape around fire hydrants.

If crime is still a problem in your neighborhood, On-Target Security provides off-duty uniformed police officers to patrol the streets of your neighborhood. We’ve worked with homeowner associations and apartment complexes to provide security and help give residents peace of mind that someone is looking out for them. If you’d like to learn more about our security services, email us today for a free, no obligation quote.

Since 1989 school shootings have been on the rise in the US. Before that time, gunmen typically only had one or two intended targets in mind or they killed a small number of people. Nowadays, the number of deceased victims from the shooters has escalated dramatically. We all remember Columbine in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999 which resulted in 13 innocent deaths, but did you know about the Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia from September 1st-3rd, 2004 which resulted in 385 deaths and 783 injured?

After the latest attack at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut last month, school districts, law enforcement and politicians are trying to find way to make sure our most important assets – our children – are kept safe. The challenge is local police departments do not have the funding or manpower to place on-duty police officers in every school. Schools districts across the nation are looking to private security firms to help protect their campuses. One security firm in Jefferson City, MO says that private security can provide a more cost-effective solution that provides the same amount training.

We need to protect our children as they are our future!

On-Target Security, Inc. only hires professional, fully trained and qualified off-duty police officers. We offer a full range of services to keep you, your family, and your assets safe. Contact us today for a free quote.

The Indianapolis Star reported recently that homeowner associations looking to private security to help keep their neighborhoods safe. Homeowners say that they private patrols have provided a sense of security when city budgets have caused fewer cops to be on the streets. For years, the Geist Patrol has helped keep residents of that community safe.

The trend is not new to just Indianapolis. Homeowner associations and neighborhood community groups have expanded their community watch patrols to include off-duty patrols.

Off-duty officers provide a cost-effective solution to neighborhood groups — providing their residents with a piece of mind that a licensed law enforcement officer is helping to keep their neighborhood safe.

According to statistics reported by the Miami Herald, in 2010 there were 30 residential burglaries in the Emerald Hills neighborhood of Hollywood, Fla. In 2011, 54. In 2012, the neighborhood hired private security and that presence reduced the number of break-ins to only two in the first four months of the year.

If your a member of a homeowner’s association and would like to learn more about the neighborhood protection services we offer at On-Target Security, email us to request more information or to set up a custom consultation.

In the end, your family’s safety and security is most important. Our officers are trained professionals who will help provide the security presence, but also be able to enforce the law if a crime occurs.

That question is usually the first question we receive from potential clients.. It is usually followed by, “Why can’t we just hire a security guard?”.

Security guards can be an effective deterrent against crime, but in most cases that is all a security guard can do is act as a deterrent. While security guards do receive training for their positions their training courses are designed to enable them to handle the situations with confidence, until police of other emergency officials arrive.

Sworn police officers are always “on-duty” which means they can immediately take action against a suspect. They don’t have to call the police, because they are the police.

On-Target Security hires only sworn police officers that are highly trained professionals. If an emergency were to happen at your event, our uniformed or plain clothes officers will be able to react swiftly to deal with the situation.